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| Date Reviewed: 01/08/2003 |
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Strengths: Amazing editing features and digital file flexibility
Weaknesses: A lot to learn and understand
Summary: 2003-03-17 12:44:25 I just bought the Panasonic DMR-HS2 and my VCR will soon see the dumpster. If you aren’t up to speed on DVD-RAM technology and recordable DVD, then you should get to an electronics store and test drive the HS2. First of all, since these units are digital and have hard drives (same as your PC), you can record video or TV shows to the hard drive (40GB) and then burn a DVD-R copy for your friend who has a DVD player. So that’s something that single-cassette VHS machines couldn’t do at all. Also, I can plug my digital still or video camera SD card into the HS2 and edit my pictures into a video that I just shot. RAM DISKS can also be re-recorded I think like a 100,000 times or something. But the advantage of the RAM disc is that it allows you to store video, audio and photos. Then with the hard drive you can back all that stuff up onto the drive and edit your own videos, since this thing also has great editing features. And like TIVO (which I love, but see that with machines like this - TIVO won’t be around much longer) you can record TV shows to the hard drive using VCR Plus codes or by setting the schedule yourself, even a month in advance. So I would check one of these out, there great fun and you’ll be happy you broke-up with your VCR.
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| Date Reviewed: 05/26/2003 |
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Strengths: DVD-R recording, Hard drive, LOTS of inputs/outputs, multiple recording speeds.
Weaknesses: Slow response with remote sometimes, only very basic editing, editing is not "perfect", no keyboard for titles, DVD-RAM discs are pricey.
Summary: I picked this up for a low price off Ebay when it came out. The unit is a great intro to this new market. I use it almost every day to record stuff. I typically use it to record a tv show, edit out the commericals, and burn to a DVD-R which is playable on most regular DVD players. Even though I say "basic editing" is a weakness for now its just fine. I can't wait for newer models with more features, better quality, bigger hard drives, more options, etc.
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| Date Reviewed: 02/21/2003 |
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Strengths: Great features and fun to use
Weaknesses: Need to educate yourself in order to use it all
Summary: Are you still using VHS to record your TV shows or using tape based camcorders to shoot your movies? Then you really need to catch up on home entertainment. I just bought the Panasonic DMR-HS2 and now I am officially scrapping my VCR. I have spent hours recording TV shows that I would miss and then watch them the next day or years later, but the quality deteriorated and I have no good archived stuff. Also, no more rigging 2 VCR's together to make copies for friends. So the HS2 - here's the deal. First off, the DVD/RAM technology makes all the VCR dilemmas a thing of the past. It’s got a 40GB hard drive, can use RAM and cheap record once R DVD's. Now this is cool too - I can plug-in my memory card into the HS2 and burn copies of pictures from my digital camera into a video that I just shot, by using the unit's editing features – while I'm editing the video...But back to recording TV shows, which personally, I've enjoyed doing for years. For people like me its the units record and watch at the same time feature that is cool. Pretty much I can record and playback the same program at the same time, i.e., you can watch the beginning of a show while the end is recording. And like TIVO - which I love, but see its demise coming with products like this - you can record TV shows to the hard drive using VCR Plus codes or by setting the schedule yourself, even a month in advance. In a word, throw out your VCR and go and pick-up an HS2.
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| Date Reviewed: 07/11/2003 |
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Strengths: Very good quality recordings with the right media - recommend Verbatim 1x DVD-R
Weaknesses: Owners Manual is almost useless. Panasonic needs to start over and try this again. Could use a firewire "OUT" to daisy-chain several units for duplication purposes.
Summary: I've had great success recording DVD's via firewire from my camcorder as well as DIRECTLY from my Macintosh computer running Final Cut Pro 1.25. I don't know why others are having problems, perhaps they have a Windows-based computer that isn't compatible. This is a really nice unit, but still haven't figured out how to make playlist "chapters" because the manual is useless.
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| Date Reviewed: 11/08/2002 |
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 With so many choices (media types) on the market, ... Strengths: Nice looking, some good features.
Weaknesses: Not ready for prime time. Remote functions slow to respond on unit- power on (front unit display) delays until HDD spins up.
Summary: With so many choices (media types) on the market, it gets rather confusing. My focus was on a unit that had an internal HDD for more storage. The Panasonic seemed to fit the bill. I picked it up from Circuit City and gave the manual a once over. I figured a simple connection using the CATV cables was the best to get started. I plugged the unit in and it started the automatic programming just like the manual said. But wait- the tv was tuned to channel 3 with normal CATV program on. No problem I figure- just hit the TV/DVD remote button to switch over to the Panasonic output. After 1 hour of checking and moving cables, and verified with the SVIDEO out, I discovered the unit is defective right out of the box ( No RF out from the DVD player, and cable TV connection always passed through). This does me no good since I was replacing a VCR. I have no patience for high dollar and defective equipment. I returned it to Circuit City and they confirmed the unit bad. I don't give second chances and they gave me the money back. Think I'll wait another year.....
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| Date Reviewed: 02/16/2003 |
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Strengths: NA
Weaknesses: i-link only working with dv camera not with laptop or desktop.
Summary: guys we have a problem with the pcmiia card with memory stick. we can not put jpeg file´s on to hdd or dvd. Can somebody help us. Somebody knows if there is a posibility to put a keyboord on the system.
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| Date Reviewed: 12/10/2002 |
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Strengths: Several inputs,
Good video quality output to disc,
Encodes sound as Dolby Digital (saves disc space),
Record to hard drive for editing,
Progressive scan playback.
Weaknesses: No DVD-RW disc support,
1x speed DVD-R recording,
No menu display via coax cable,
DV-in only for camcorders,
Titles are hard to input (no keyboard),
No TV guide.
Summary: I should note that my first Panasonic DMR-HS2 unit made a loud, high-pitch whine when powered on. I returned it to Circuit City for an exchange, and the new one is much more quiet. I ran into the same issue as stift mentioned above: no menus when connected via the coaxial cables. Turns out this is not a defect, but by design (although I have no idea why). But this fact is buried within the manual. Onscreen display only works with the AV or Component video output connectors. This sucks for me, because my Playstation is already connected to the AV connector on my television. I ended up hooking the recorder to the TV and the Playstation into the DMR-HS2, since it has several inputs. The built in MPEG encoder does a great job while transferring video from my Hi8 camcorder tapes, in real-time. Much much faster than capturing into my computer and transcoding for hours/days, and the DMR-HS2 produces better results. You can also store TV programs on the hard drive, edit them and later save to DVD-R disc. The timer functions are similar to a basic VCR, there is no online guide like TiVo (or most satellite receivers). The DMR-HS2 also has a flash card reader. With appropriate adapter can read digital camera pictures and put them on DVD disc for you, although I don't have much use for this feature. I originally considered the Pioneer DVR-7000 but this Panasonic produces similar quality video at a cheaper price, and has a hard drive for basic editing.
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| Date Reviewed: 11/28/2002 |
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Strengths: Hard drive. Progressive scan output.
Weaknesses: Manual needs work. Not the easiest to read and find info. Some procedure descriptions are incomplete. Company has recognized this and installed a special toll-free number for expert help. Some menu itemx are hard to find.
Summary: Good hybrid product. But it has its weaknesses in not being able to control a satellite receiver and its manual needs an update in describing some procedures. Like computers, garbage in = garbage out. Record the best and play the best.
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| Date Reviewed: 10/26/2002 |
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Strengths: Too many to describe. But basically it has all the advantages of the Panny E30 plus a hard drive for hours of recording and editing
Weaknesses: Editing is quite limited. Firewire connection only works with camcorders, not with PCs. The unit responds slowly to some of the commands from the remote.
Summary: This monster is the gadget I had been waiting for for a long time. It almost does it all. Great value!! Best unit of this kind in the market!!!
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